Authors:

Elie Haddad

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About Paper:

Members of the LGBTQ+ community disproportionately face mental health issues across the United States. Current research demonstrates that there is a disparity in the mental health of those in rural versus urban areas. This has been seen largely due to different attitudes towards mental healthcare and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as varying access to mental health resources and social networks. The social and political climate surrounding the LGBTQ+ community has shifted significantly over the last decade, with the legalization of gay marriage, increased LGBTQ+ representation in the media, and the rising demand for LGBTQ+ specific healthcare. Specifically our study focuses on rates of depression as a quantifiable measure of mental health disparities. Studies have illustrated that depression, compared to other mental health disorders, leads to especially increased rates of self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to compare the rates of depression among the LGBTQ+ community in rural versus urban areas. We aim to observe trends in the rates of depression based on factors including population density, the number of mental health practitioners in an area, and local attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. It is imperative that we analyze these trends to identify gaps in mental healthcare for this community so that effective solutions can be integrated. Further research could lead to changes in healthcare policies and training that will improve mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ people in all geographical areas of the United States. Prevalence of depression within the LGBTQ+

Source:

University of Florida / Elie Haddad, Zainab Nawaz, John Basile, and Ajay Mittal / 2023

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Co-authors:

Elie Haddad